Samson Oak

Professor Samson Oak ナリヤ・オーキド Nariya Ohkido
Official artwork from Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Age	Unknown
Gender	Male
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	White
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Alola
Relatives	Professor Oak (cousin) Blue (cousin-twice-removed) Daisy (cousin-twice-removed)
Generation	VII
Games	Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Animated series	Pokémon the Series
Debut	Alola to New Adventure!
English voice actor	Marc Thompson
Japanese voice actor	Unshō Ishizuka (SM001-SM088) Kenyu Horiuchi (SM093-present)
Manga series	Pokémon Adventures
Debut	The Decision and the Tournament of Six

Samson Oak (Japanese: ナリヤ・オーキド Nariya Ohkido) is a Pokémon Professor in Alola. He studies the regional forms and Totem Pokémon of the region. He is a cousin of Professor Oak, with whom he shares a striking resemblance.

In the core series games

Pokémon Sun and Moon

Samson Oak is first seen in Malie City on Ula'ula Island in Sun and Moon, when the player's Rotom Pokédex recognizes him. He tells the player about his research on regional forms, and asks them to come to meet him in the city's library. When the player meets him in the library, he talks about regional forms again, before requesting that the player show him the local variant Persian. Upon being shown an Alolan Persian, he explains why regional forms exist and explains his theory on why the Alolan Persian looks the way it does before giving the player a Love Ball. He also talks about his cousin in Kanto, who gave him a Kanto Pokédex which he uses to compare the Alolan variants of Pokémon native to Kanto to their regular form counterparts. Finally, he tells the player about how his cousin's grandson might come to visit Alola someday because of the Z-Crystals Samson has sent him.

Samson is later met behind the Malie City Recycling Plant, where he explains why the Alolan Grimer is the way it is and gives the player a Friend Ball before leaving for Malie Library. The player may also encounter Samson inside the Geothermal Power Plant on Blush Mountain, where he will be standing in front of a photo of the Kalos Power Plant. Here he will tell the player about the hair of Alolan Diglett before handing the player a Lure Ball. He is also met behind the Pokémon Center atop Mount Hokulani, where he talks about Minior's different forms. Before going back to Malie Library again, he gives the player a Moon Ball.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the player meets Samson earlier, namely before going to Big Wave Beach to Mantine Surf to Akala Island, this replacing the initial encounter in Malie City. In these games, Samson studies Totem Pokémon and will give the player Totem-like Pokémon at Heahea Beach after collecting a certain amount of Totem Stickers. He is also an expert Mantine Surfer, initially holding the third-highest scores at all four of Alola's surfing beaches. The player can also encounter him at Route 12 near Ula'ula Beach, where he contemplates how he never seems to be able to beat a certain "kimono-clad cad" when it comes to the ranking boards.

Pokémon

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Gives away

20 Totem Stickers		40 Totem Stickers
Ultra Sun	Ultra Moon	Ultra Sun	Ultra Moon
Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Adaptability Held item: None Gumshoos♂/♀ Lv.20 Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Odor Sleuth Normal Status   --       Bide Normal Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --	Types: Dark Normal Ability: Thick Fat Held item: None Raticate♂/♀ Lv.20 Bite Dark Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Hyper Fang Normal Physical   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --	Types: Fire Ghost Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Marowak♂/♀ Lv.25 Leer Normal Status   --       Hex Ghost Special   --       Bonemerang Ground Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --	Types: Bug Water Ability: Water Bubble Held item: None Araquanid♂/♀ Lv.25 Spider Web Bug Status   --       Bug Bite Bug Physical   --       Bubble Beam Water Special   --       Bite Dark Physical   --
50 Totem Stickers		70 Totem Stickers
Ultra Sun	Ultra Moon	Ultra Sun	Ultra Moon
Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Leaf Guard Held item: None Lurantis♂/♀ Lv.30 Growth Normal Status   --       Ingrain Grass Status   --       Leaf Blade Grass Physical   --       Synthesis Grass Status   --	Types: Poison Fire Ability: Corrosion Held item: None Salazzle♀ Lv.30 Smog Poison Special   --       Double Slap Normal Physical   --       Flame Burst Fire Special   --       Toxic Poison Status   --	Types: Bug Electric Ability: Levitate Held item: None Vikavolt♂/♀ Lv.35 Spark Electric Physical   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Bug Buzz Bug Special   --	Types: Electric Steel Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Togedemaru♂/♀ Lv.35 Nuzzle Electric Physical   --       Magnet Rise Electric Status   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Zing Zap Electric Physical   --
80 Totem Stickers	100 Totem Stickers
	Ultra Sun	Ultra Moon
Types: Ghost Fairy Ability: Disguise Held item: None Mimikyu♂/♀ Lv.40 Feint Attack Dark Physical   --       Charm Fairy Status   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --	Types: Bug Fairy Ability: Sweet Veil Held item: None Ribombee♂/♀ Lv.50 Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special   --       Aromatherapy Grass Status   --       Quiver Dance Bug Status   --	Types: Dragon Fighting Ability: Overcoat Held item: None Kommo-o♂/♀ Lv.50 Work Up Normal Status   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Iron Defense Steel Status   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --

Gallery

Overworld model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Quotes

Main article: Samson Oak/Quotes

In animation

History

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Samson Oak in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Samson debuted in Alola to New Adventure!. He is the principal of the Pokémon School. His cousin Professor Oak had assigned Ash and Delia to deliver an Egg to him, which they did. While Delia returned home, Ash chose to stay behind after becoming a student at the school.

In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, Samson assigned the students to look after one of two Eggs, one of them being the Egg that Delia and Ash had brought with them. They chose the white Egg and he looked after the other Egg, which hatched into a Vulpix in Getting to Know You!.

In Racing to a Big Event!, Samson entered the Pokémon Pancake Race with Komala and won.

To celebrate the Pokémon School's twentieth anniversary, Samson arranged a special field trip to Kanto to visit Professor Oak, along with Ash, his classmates, and Professor Kukui from Alola, Kanto! to When Regions Collide!.

In Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie!, Samson told Ash and his classmates of how he met Komala. Later, he, along with Professor Kukui, Ash, and his classmates, helped Komala learn Sing, thus putting a stop to Jigglypuff's routine tantrums after noticing its audience sleeping through its songs.

In League Offenders and Defenders!, Samson surprised Ash and his classmates when he informed them that he would be entering the Manalo Conference. In Battle Royal 151!, Samson was among the 151 Trainers taking part in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference. He entered with Komala and was ultimately among the 16 Trainers remaining at the end. The match-ups revealed that he would be battling Hau in the first round.

In Battling Besties!, Samson battled Hau in the first round of the Manalo Conference. He used his Alolan Exeggutor against Hau's Alolan Raichu, but it was defeated, thus eliminating Samson from the tournament.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In Helping the Hometown Hero!, Samson attended a party to celebrate the return of Lillie and her family to Alola after they found Mohn. The next day, Samson watched the Battle Royal match between Ash, Kiawe, Gladion, and Professor Kukui.

In Paring Pokémon While Parrying!, Samson was seen watching Ash's Masters Eight Tournament match against Leon at the Pokémon School.

Character

Samson is a cheerful and zany individual who enjoys making puns with the names of Pokémon while usually doing a visual impression, much to the embarrassment or confusion of those around him.

Pokémon

This listing is of Samson's known Pokémon in Pokémon the Series:

On hand

Komala

Debut	The Guardian's Challenge!
Voice actors
Japanese
English	Mike Liscio

Samson's Komala first appeared sleeping atop of a tree at the Pokémon School. It is usually seen ringing the Bronzong-themed bell at the School. Starting in A Mission of Ultra Urgency!, Komala rings the bell frantically when the Ultra Guardians are needed.

Samson and Komala met when the former was taking a stroll. He came across Komala who was blocking the road for a few farmers and travelers because it had lost its log. Samson wanted to give Komala a pineapple to replace its log but instead, it clung to Samson's face. From then on, Komala held on to Samson at all times, even when he carved a new log for it. One day, as Samson prepared to ring the bell of the Pokémon School, Komala took over and clung to the log used to ring the bell. Samson decided to keep it and Komala would continue to ring the bell every day on time.

In Racing to a Big Event!, it participated in the Pokémon Pancake Race with its Trainer and won. In Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie!, because of its constant sleeping, it was able to avoid Jigglypuff's scribbling after its routine song, causing it to become furious. Samson, Professor Kukui, Ash, and his classmates were able to stop Jigglypuff by teaching Komala Sing and turning the situation around on it.

In Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!, Komala was questioned by Rotom about Ash's missing Electrium Z, but Komala slept through the questioning.

In Battle Royal 151!, Samson used Komala during the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference. Komala was among the 16 Pokémon still fighting at the end, securing its Trainer a place in the first round of the actual tournament.

Komala's known moves are Wood Hammer, Rapid Spin, and Sing.

Egg → Vulpix

Debut	Getting to Know You!
Voice actors
Japanese
English	Suzy Myers

In Alola to New Adventure!, Samson Oak received this Vulpix Egg from his cousin, Professor Oak, under the care of Ash. In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, Samson offered Ash and his classmates the opportunity to raise either this Egg or a white one. When the latter was chosen, Samson chose to raise the remaining Egg himself.

In Getting to Know You!, the Egg hatched into a Vulpix.

In Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!, Vulpix was with Samson Oak in the Pokémon School, where Samson revealed that he was training Vulpix to respond when it hears its name.

In The Professors' New Adventure!, Vulpix attended the wedding of Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet.

Vulpix reappeared in A Mission of Ultra Urgency! and Filling the Light with Darkness!.

Vulpix's only known move is Ember.

Exeggutor

Debut	Battling Besties!

Samson Oak used an Alolan Exeggutor in his Manalo Conference battle against Hau and his Alolan Raichu, but it was defeated.

Exeggutor's only known move is Dragon Hammer.

Given away

Egg

Achievements

Pokémon League

Samson has competed in the following Pokémon League Conferences:

• Manalo Conference - Top 16 (Battling Besties!)

Pokémon competitions

Samson has competed in the following Pokémon competitions:

• Pokémon Pancake Race - Winner (Racing to a Big Event!)

Voice actors

In the manga

Samson Oak in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Samson Oak debuted in The Decision and the Tournament of Six. He served as a judge at a tournament held at an Iki Town festival. During Moon's battle against Gladion, Moon was confused as to why Gladion wouldn't have his Porygon attack her newly caught Alolan Grimer with Psybeam. Samson stepped in to tell Moon, who had only just recently arrived in Alola, about how regional forms can also have different types as well as appearances.

In Darkness!! The Mysterious Claws of Necrozma!, Sina and Dexio took Samson to the Aether Base on Route 16. They introduced him to the Reassembly Unit, which they planned on using to control Zygarde's forms. Later, Samson, Sina, Dexio, and Lillie set off to Mount Lanakila to investigate an Ultra Wormhole that appeared above the area. Before they could leave, a large swarm of Zygarde Cells and a Core converged into the Reassembly Unit and emerged as a Complete Forme Zygarde. Shortly afterward, Sun emerged from the wormhole and was rescued by Zygarde. Samson and the others traveled to Mount Lanakila, where they found an injured Lunala and Lusamine. After Lillie helped free her mother from the Nihilego she was fused with, Lusamine fainted. Sun tried getting Zygarde to take Lusamine to a hospital, only to notice that Necrozma had arrived.

Samson had Sina and Dexio take Lillie and Lusamine to a safe place while he and Sun faced Necrozma.

Pokémon

Golem

Debut	Tyrant!! The Fiendish Man!

This Alolan Golem is Samson's first known Pokémon. It was first used to fight Necrozma on Mount Lanakila alongside Sun.

None of Golem's moves are known.

Graveler

Debut	Tyrant!! The Fiendish Man!

This Alolan Graveler is Samson's second known Pokémon. It was first used to fight Necrozma on Mount Lanakila alongside Sun.

None of Graveler's moves are known.

In the TCG

Samson Oak in the TCG

Main article: Samson Oak (Unbroken Bonds 185)

Samson Oak was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Sun & Moon Series (the Japanese SM Era). It was first released as one of the Japanese SM-P Promotional cards before debuting in English in the Unbroken Bonds expansion, with artwork by Masakazu Fukuda. It allows the player to draw two cards, and two more if both Active Pokémon are the same type.

Trivia

• In the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese versions of the game, Samson's name is written in Western order (given name placed before family name), as opposed to his cousin, Professor Oak, whose name is written in East Asian order (family name before given name).
• In Malie Library, Samson refers to Blue as his grandnephew. However, the term "grandnephew" refers to the grandson of one's sibling, not to the grandson of one's cousin. Blue is actually Samson's first cousin twice-removed. Although terms like "nephew" are often used for relations that are in the "removed" category for the sake of convenience.
• Samson is 5'9" (175 cm) tall.
• In the animated series, Samson is the first Pokémon Professor to compete in a Pokémon League Conference.
  • In promotional material for the Manalo Conference, Samson was given the title of (Japanese: 千のポケ顔を持つ男 Man of a thousand Poké-faces).

Names

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.